Shopping for and buying a new or used vehicle
can be time-consuming and frustrating. But for one North Carolina woman, the process was even worse than usual. After purchasing a vehicle through Vroom, a notable online car vendor, she struggled to get in touch with the company to get her tags. Call after call, she failed to get in touch with Vroom. And now the publicized incident may end up landing Vroom in legal trouble. Vroom’s documentation mishap
Oak Island, NC resident Kimberly Sands had quite the experience trying to enjoy her new vehicle, a car that she purchased through Vroom. The NC woman thought the process would be simple enough, according to WRAL News
. But when she couldn’t get her tags for the new car after the initial temporary tags she was given expired, she started to worry. She didn’t want to get pulled over with expired plates, so she reached out to Vroom. The car vendor allegedly told her not to worry—they would pay for her ticket (if she got one). And while she was thankfully only given a warning ticket, NC offers drivers 20 days after purchasing a car to get their permanent plates and tags. It took Vroom 95 days to get her the title she needed in order to get permanent plates for the vehicle. A similar issue in Wake County, NC landed Carvana, a similar competitor, banned from selling vehicles in that area for 6 months.
What consequences will Vroom face over the incident?
While Sands’ experience wasn’t unique, it was incredibly frustrating. And as it happens, Vroom has a long history of leaving customers stranded as far as car sale documentation is concerned. The NC attorney general’s office is investigating 19 title and tag complaints against Vroom from the last year, and it’s likely that more complaints will continue to rack up against the automotive vendor.
It’s possible that Vroom could be banned from selling in other counties in NC over the course of the next year, but so far Vroom has avoided any legal consequences. As a separate entity that isn’t based in North Carolina, Vroom isn’t under the jurisdiction of the NC DMV. So if we’re to learn from Sands’ trials and tribulations while dealing with Vroom, is it worth it to buy a used vehicle from them?
MORE: Texas Customers Had Frustrating Vroom Car Buying Experience
Despite the NC incidents, Vroom has a solid reputation
While no one should be given a ticket over something that’s someone else’s fault, these isolated incidents don’t necessarily mean that Vroom is a disreputable company or operates under shady conditions. Just be aware that car vendors may need you to get on their case from the beginning. Make sure to ask immediately for all documentation that you may need from the vendor. Whether you purchase a vehicle through Vroom or Carvana, it’s your responsibility as a customer to ensure that your registration and plates are up to date.
MORE: Popular Mechanics Says This is the Best Website For Buying a Used Car
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